I've been patronizing this fine establishment for many years. I have yet to be disappointed. There is always a feeling of family here. The food is fantastic and the value is definitely there. The staff is always friendly and personable. They do a great job of making you feel welcome and appreciated. The standard setting is warm tortilla chips and salsa. I usually order the burrito Colorado or the fajitas. The fajitas el rio is the absolute best low key item on the menu. You could definitely make two meals of it, or maybe even share it. Modelo Negro in bottles is always a good pairing. Pro tip and IYKYK: order chiles toreados, boom! And if you have room, which I doubt, get the desserts. All of them are fantastic. I love bringing my family here for an always great experience. read more

We were in Stoughton and looking for a place for lunch. We checked reviews and this place looked like a good choice. It wasn't too busy. The inside was more attractive than the rather beat-up exterior. The staff was very friendly. They did have daily lunch specials but we both ordered off of the regular menu. After chowing on the chips and salsa our food came out rather quickly. I got the enchiladas rancheras which were very good and different with the cheese enchiladas covered in a shredded beef in an enchilada sauce. I never had enchiladas this way and would come back just for these. My wife got a combo of chicken enchiladas and a quesadilla - thumbs up on both. Hers came with rice and beans but mine did not. Prices were reasonable but they do tack on 3% for using a credit card. read more

One of our favorites! Take out, delivery or dine in. Staff is an absolute blast, Erica is a hoot! Huge menu but they know our usuals . Traditional vibe with an edge. read more

This was such a pleasant surprise. We love Mexican food and the entrees we had were excellent and very authentic. The staff was very friendly and checked back often to see if we needed anything. Portions were large, we each took home seconds for later. We would come again if we are in the area. read more

I'm a Texas Southerner. And like most Texans, we think we know...actually we KNOW good Mexican food...so when I say the food, service and ambiance at El Rio Grande are spot-on, you should trust this review. If you live anywhere near Stoughton, this is THE place for Mexican cuisine!!!! read more

It had been over 14 years since I last visited this family owned restaurant but I was n town for a concert on a Friday night and visited ELRioGrande. They did not disappoint. We ordered Chile Rellenos and carne asada tacos. The tacos were high quality meat and perfectly seasoned. The tortillas were lightly fried and gave the tacos great texture. The chiles Rellenos were excellent and both served with rice and refried beans. All excellent. Being of Mexican descent I'm usually disappointed in Mexican restaurants. Not this time. Only thing that keeps this from being a 5 star review is the salsa served with chips before dinner. Too bland and very Americanized. I asked first something spicier and was brought a small cup of Chile de Arbol salsa for an extra charge. No need to be chintzy with salsa. read more

A friendly comfortable inexpensive place to eat in Stoughton. Decent quality food and well trained staff. The red sauce is a little different, more like a molay sauce with a little heat. The green sauce is good as an alternative. Our only complaint was the bottled beer wasn't cold enough and the margarita that my wife had was sour and not up to her expectations. All in all a nice experience and we would go back. read more

Service.is friendly here, even if it is not always fast. The margaritas are huge and they have many different flavors. The restaurant is decorated like a party is always happening, a fun and festive place to be. This place is a Stoughton staple and can never be replaced! read more

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This food is very good. when it was my moms birthday we got this but they messed up our order, we called them and said that they messed it up, which then they made more food for us and gave us free drinks for it. Great place would definitely recommend. read more

Very Americanized food. Compared to La Cantina which is great, this just doesn't make the mark.

One of my absolute favorite casual Mexican restaurants. I've seriously never had a bad experience/meal here, and I've been many times with many different groups. The restaurant is pretty big and very nice! The menu is huge, so there's surely something for everyone. My whole family loves this place. I'd highly recommend the carnitas plate. So much tasty food for a good price! I definitely want to try the margaritas next time. Will absolutely be returning!! read more

El Rio Grande - Tacos De Pescado and Carnitas - Mexican Near Me - Stoughton, Wisconsin

if you've not beeen here... you're deprived of sone of the most authentic and tasteful meals you'll experience. The wait staff to include and most especially Caesar the owner are always professional, happy, and courteous. The food I can't say enough about and their Cadillac margaritas take you to the streets of Mexico! But all of their drinks are too notch. Honestly I would love to be selfish and not tell people how amazing they are, but simply cannot. They deserve all the praise they get in every category. read more

El Rio Grande - The ice cream dessert!!! YUM!!! - Mexican Near Me - Stoughton, Wisconsin

wow! everything about this place is wonderful. the food is delicious and the staff is so friendly and welcoming. the entire place has an amazing atmosphere. we have visited multiple times and will definitely be back very soon! read more

Walked in to place an order for take out. Many staff members (not servers,) were talking up front by the hostess stand. One guy saw me waiting to ask to place an order, he smiled and walked away. Another lady joined me in line, the same guy came back and left again. Waited around 8-10 minutes before being greeted and assisted in placing a to go order. Took home 2 "double" orders of steak fajitas. The meat was extremely unappetizing and tough. Ended up throwing the entire order away after tasting it. I was really disappointed as I had heard good things from others who have dined there. Maybe eating there would be better than the take out? Maybe they had a tough batch of beef come in? read more

incredible food and staff. brandon is an excellent employee that went above and beyond to help us. best mexican food in stoughton. when you go try the camorones al mojo the garlicy buttery shrimp is so good. read more

Dead stop on Wisconsin highway. Sitting long enough to start looking for something to eat, on yelp, of course! That's how I found this place. Yelp reviews were strong and I figured I could get there if I got off at the next exit, if ever we moved again. So sometime later and after some quite lovely back roads I arrived here. However, this place is not very far off the highway, perhaps 4 miles or so. It was busy at 4:30 in the afternoon. It's a big place on the inside. I was seated at a nice booth, they have a few and then one of those great larger round ones too. The menu was fairly robust, and I choose nachos thinking they sounded terrific and perhaps would be perfect to get back on the road. Waitress was funny and engaging. The nachos were HUGE. I could not even come close to finishing them. But they were terrific. I ordered a mix of chicken and steak after discussion with the waitress and that was a good idea. The protein was not my favorite part though. The nachos and toppings were really really good. Its been years since I have had nachos and after these I may wait years for more, not sure anything will compare. If you want a taco or anything else as well, you can order a half order of nachos if you like. I found that out after I got them, and thankfully I had ordered only those. Ask for jalapenos. Nice service. Pleasant all around. I have two things I'd think about changing. You pay at exit. So much easier to pay the waitress. And the parking is not great. At all. But they can't make a bigger lot so if you see a full lot, look for street parking. Its worth it. read more

El Rio Grande - Nachos. Huuuuge. - Mexican Near Me - Stoughton, Wisconsin

We are huge Mexican food fans! We just moved to Stoughton and HAD to try El Rio Grande. We have heard nothing but amazing things, but had to check it out ourselves. It is a small place with even smaller parking, but worth the walk from a nearby street. They don't always have enough servers on, but they are really good at what they do. Their chips and salsa are pretty yummy while you wait. The food was AMAZING! We tried the taquitos twice now and both the beef and chicken are delicious. Their rice and beans are some of the best I've had, but you may need extra sour cream. They are like every restaurant and skimp on that a little. We will become regulars here for sure, it is a must go for anyone looking for somewhere to eat in Stoughton! read more

El Rio Grande - Mexican Near Me - Stoughton, Wisconsin

Absolutely amazing food and fantastic service. Tack on the great prices, too? Can't recommend this place enough!!

I love this place. I've been here dozens of times now and have never once had a bad experience. Recently I've been hooked on the Fajitas Rio Grande - Chicken, beef, chorizo and shrimp, mixed with fajita veggies and served sizzling. MMM so good! And the portion size is plenty big enough to get two meals out it. The flautas are another favorite of mine - both the shredded chicken and beef are excellent. Tacos de Chorizo are awesome when you have a craving for tacos. The chips and salsa you get when you sit down are great. I love their salsa as it's not chunky and it's more of a puree. The cheese sauce is a must, but be careful, you'll fill up on chips before your food arrives!! As far as the building goes, it decorated really festive with fun lighting and artwork. It's not fancy at all, but it's authentic! There is a bar as well as stage too! read more

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This place is worth the drive from Madison! If you are looking for good quality Mexican food, you must try El Rio Grande. It may not look like much from the outside, or the inside but don't let that fool you.... The food is what you are there for anyways. After seated you are served complimentary chips and salsa. The salsa has great flavor and the chips are freshly made. You can't pass up their margarita's either. Typically I order mine on the rocks but this place I always choose frozen. They have 5-6 different flavors to choose from. If you are not a fan of salsa I highly recommend ordering their cheese dip (your traditional white queso). I could go on and on of all the amazing dishes to order but let me spare you and just name off a few. -A must try is their BBQ Pork Quesadilla, it is incredible and the portion size is huge! Make sure to order a size of rice & beans because the quesadilla's do not come with them and they are delicious. -The Chimi Acapulco, this sucker is HUGE, I mean it! I don't think I have ever came close to finishing it. It is loaded with grilled chicken, steak, shrimp, onions, tomatoes and green peppers, topped with their delicious cheese sauce. Lastly I want to say the owner is very down to earth, and make sure you are enjoying your food/dining experience. He also has a heart of gold, and actually started a GoFundMe page for an elderly ice pop vendor in Illinois that went viral raising over $300k changing that mans life. Kudos to you!! read more

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The El Rio Grande family are very personable and their food is Outstanding! I highly recommend you give them a try whether you eat in or get delivery. Best Mexican restaurant in Stoughton and the surrounding area! read more

A local favorite. Really good food and service. It's always busy on a Friday night so get your order in early.

Family and I were on a roadtrip and we just so happened to stop here and food was amazing! The customer service was the best part of the experience though. totally recommend! read more

El Rio Grande is easily one of the best Mexican restaurants in the Madison metro area. Extensive menu and daily specials. Great food, good prices, nice people, and great service! My family enjoys going here about twice a month, and it is always a great meal with fun conversations AND we don't have to do the dishes when we're done! :) Thanks El Rio Grande! read more

Well done! It's amazing how clean and simple their dishes are and yet so perfectly executed that it can put shame to a lot other glitzy establishments. There is a homely feeling with their flavors that make your taste buds really happy! We ordered a Chimi Acapulco and Enchiladas Michoacan, paired with their famous margarita. The Chimichanga was thankfully not drenching in oil and the cheese sauce on top paired very well with the carnival of flavors within the burrito itself. All meats and seafood were cooked just right and complimented the side dishes. The sides of beans and rice was amazing! I've never had beans that were mashed to the silkiness of mashed potatoes!! The rice were so flavorful that they could stand out as a dish as themselves. The Enchiladas were equally impressive with the tanginess of the green salsa really working well with the chorizo bits on top and the pork itself. The portions were generous, price good on value and service very pleasant!! I'd definitely recommend this joint! read more

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Don't be a Mexican food snob and you'll love this place. I'm from Texas and I love the food at El Rio Grande. It's my kind of comfort food. The service is also always solid. read more

This place is tasty and the service is friendly. The food is delicious but what lost them a star for me is that the food, while tasty, is a bit Americanized (which makes sense considering they are in Stoughton). However, they are more than happy to accommodate or make things more authentic for you. They'll substitute liquid queso for shredded cheese or queso fresco. They'll bring you the spicer salsa, a flavorful Chile de árbol. Recently they have been carefully venturing more and more into the authentic side and I really hope they keep heading in that direction. The chef is obviously talented and I hope he gets to cook more on the authentic side than the safer side. read more

Food is delicious, good atmosphere. Only negative is that it is usually pretty cold in there.

I got the Marina Fajitas. On the menu, it's described as containing crab, scallops, and shrimp. Thinking it was most likely imitation crab, I decided to forgo the crab. My co-worker joked that I was brave for ordering seafood from a Mexican joint but I was undeterred. As I write this, yes I'm alive and well. Moreover, I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious the dish actually was. touché! The dish came with shredded iceberg lettuce, fresh pico de gallo, rice and refried beans in a separate container. Four soft flour tortillas were wrapped in a separate foil. Amazing for the value, as I easily got two meals and a snack out of the whole deal. The scallops were cooked perfectly, lightly seared on each side and no hint of fishiness. The shrimp came with the tail off, and deveined! *insert halo emoji* this is a huge pet peeve of mine, (ahem Cheesecake Factory!). Not only that, but again it was cooked perfectly - not rubbery at all, and I was impressed at the size of these things. Check out my photos and see for yourself! The ratio of scallops and shrimps were hugely in favor of the vegetables, which consisted of slices of green peppers, onions, and chunks of tomato. Thank you El Rio Grande for restoring my faith in Mexican food! read more

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Stopped in for lunch on a Tuesday afternoon and was seated immediately and attended to throughout my meal. I ordered the Speedy Gonzales lunch special (1 chicken enchilada, one taco, and choice of rice or beans). The meat was flavorful and seasoned well. The enchilada sauce had good seasoning and the beans were good as well. More Americanized Mexican (more cheese and not traditional cilantro and onions on the taco) but overall a good find in Stoughton, WI read more

El Rio Grande - Speedy Gonzales (one enchilada, one taco and choice of rice or beans) - Mexican Near Me - Stoughton, Wisconsin

You might be skeptical of finding good Mexican in South Central Wisconsin--you might even be more skeptical of finding it in Stoughton as opposed to a larger city, like Madison. I shared in your skepticism the first time a friend brought be to El Rio Grande, but I could not have been more mistaken. Madison, you can keep your Laredo's and your Pasqual's--I will happily drive 30 minutes to El Rio Grande because literally everything, from the service, to the drinks, and definitely the food, is better here. This isn't a fancy restaurant, but it's clean and welcoming, with a warm and attentive staff. Their house made salsa is some of the best I've had anywhere, and their meat, whether beef, chicken, or pork, is always seasoned perfectly. Find an excuse to visit this hidden gem of a restaurant just outside of Madison. read more

love this place so much!!!!!!!!!!!! great food. I always get their chicken quesadillas they are so good. love the staff too. they are so friendly. read more

Food here is always quick and excellent. Ordered takeout and delivery several times during COVID, and so glad they are open again. I could have their chips and salsa every day! Have tried most things in the menu and never disappointed. read more

Great food, friendly people.The we ordered a pitcher of margaritas for two of us, which was a great deal.It was very good.

Caesar was our waiter and he was AMAZING! The food was excellent as usual. Best Mexican food around.

This food was fantastic. I haven't had Mexican cuisine this tasty since I lived in San Diego. Caesar, who helped serve me, was extremely friendly and helpful. I ordered a chicken chimichanga and the pork carnitas with corn tortillas. SO DANG GOOD! Can't wait to go back! read more

Most awesome Mexican food ever! We. Try to get here at least once a month! Amazing!!!!!! read more

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Great carne asada, very family friendly atmosphere. They always want to do a great job and make customers happy.

Had lunch today at El Rio Grande in Stoughton. This was only the second time we have gone to El Rio. We don't go out much. The food at El Rio is INCREDIBLE! And the service and staff is equally wonderful. We had the dessert today and I have never tasted anything so delectable and delicious! We plan to spend many more lunches at El Rio Grande. 5 stars without a doubt. read more

Loved this place!My husband and I were first timers here...we went to another Mexican restaurant that closed down and found El Rio Grande. The hospitality was awesome! The food was great...the only thing that threw me off was the tamale. I'm used to authentic tamales and the one I ate ( though it was really good) was more americanized ( they will make it authentic if you ask). The waiter was really awesome about it and said next time we come in, they can make it the way we want it. They defiantly strive for excellent customer service and want to make everyones experience amazing. The food was so good and so filling! The salsa was a favorite for sure. Next time, I hope to save room for desert. One more thing..I've been looking for a place that's serves amazing authentic Mexican food...and I think I've finally found it. read more